The ruling Qing Dynasty is in great turmoil. After the humiliating defeat in the Opium war, Emperor Ziangfeng, is seen as ineffectual and corrupt. The Western powers are gaining more and more influence in China. Siezing on the chaos, Hong Xiuquan, claims to be the brother of Jesus and establishes the "Taiping Heavenly Kingdom" with aims of overthrowing the government and adopting Christianity as China's main religion. Amassing a giant peasant army eager for reform, the "long hairs" begin marching on Shanghai. In the Hunan province, General Tso stops eating his chicken in order to lead an army in defence of China's honor and to restore the Qing Dynasty to peace and prosperity.